Gosnell Receives Life Sentence for Murder Convictions

Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell relinquished all appeal options in order to receive a life sentence rather than a possible death penalty in his murder convictions for the deaths of babies born alive at his abortion clinic.

“House of Horrors” abortionist Kermit Gosnell was spared the death penalty after being convicted May 13 of murder in the post-abortion deaths of three babies born alive at his Philadelphia abortion clinic. Gosnell agreed to drop all appeals of his convictions in return for two life sentences without parole for the deaths of two of the infants. On May 15 he was to face another probable life sentence in the death of the third infant as he is also sentenced for his manslaughter conviction in the overdose death of a woman who had gone to his clinic for an abortion. Additionally, Gosnell faces an assortment of penalties for convictions on other charges, including infanticide, tampering with evidence, and conducting abortions after Pennsylvania's 24-week limit.

Media sources said that the sentencing deal does not include the punishment for the manslaughter conviction in the death of 41-year-old Karnamaya Mongar, because of her family's desire to address the court. Mongar perished in 2009 after one of Gosnell's unlicensed assistants administered an overdose of sedatives.

Gosnell was found not guilty in the death of one newborn, and nine other counts — including the murders of three newborn babies killed at Gosnell's clinic — were dropped in April by Judge Jeffrey Minehart.

Gosnell's attorney, Jack McMahon, said that in retrospect his client had no regrets about going to trial. “He wanted this case aired out in a courtroom and it got aired out in a courtroom in a fair way,” McMahon said after the conviction. “And now he's accepting what will happen. He's an intelligent guy.”

As reported by The New American, Stephen Massof, one of Gosnell's high-level assistants, estimated that during his five years working in the clinic he witnessed at least 100 babies born alive, whose spinal cords were then snipped with a surgical scissors, a procedure he termed “literally a beheading.” Several other Gosnell employees confirmed that the procedure was not uncommon for babies born alive during the illegal late-term abortions Gosnell performed. Massof earlier pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in the deaths of infants at the clinic.

The JBS Weekly Member Update offers activism tips, new educational tools, upcoming events, and JBS perspective. Every Monday this e-newsletter will keep you informed on current action projects and offer insight into news events you won't hear from the mainstream media.

Receive the latest updates from The John Birch Society. Learn about our national grassroots movement with 50 years of successes.